"Girl Power!": The Relationship between Women's Autonomy and Children's Immunization Coverage in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Although immunizations are efficient and cost effective methods of reducing child mortality, worldwide, approximately 2 million children die yearly of vaccine-preventable diseases. Researchers and health organizations have detailed information on the positive relationship between women’s autonomy and children’s health outcomes in developing countries. METHODS: This study investigates the links between women’s household autonomy and children’s immunization status using data from a nationally representative sample of children aged 12–30 months (N = 2941) from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. RESULTS: The results showed that women’s socioeconomic status and household autonomy were significantly associated with children’s immunization status. CONCLUSION: Overall, the implications of this study align with those of the Millennium Development Goal #3: improvements in women’s household autonomy are linked to more positive child health outcomes.